The Impi'ovement of Gi^ass Lands. 
323 
order before sowing the new grass-seeds. Some may deem it too 
expensive to use permanent grass-seeds, in winch case recourse 
must be had, as before, to rye-grass and ck)ver. But this is mis- 
taken economy. It is better to use suitable seed, and if " economy " 
must be regarded, a less quantity of it than is here recommended ; 
still rye-grass and clover, or either of them by itself, is better 
than not putting on anything. The sweepings and hay-seeds 
from the stables and hay-lofts are often advantageously used for 
this purpose ; but I trust my readers are all too good farmers to 
allow their hay to get full of seed, as this is the greatest of all 
the injuries to which meadow land is subjected, as I will endea- 
vour to show hereafter. Clover-dust, or the refuse left from 
shelling clover, may be, and is often, used with advantage, for 
as the clover-seed seldom ripens simultaneously, the unmatured 
seed does not shell so readily, and is passed out with the refuse. 
It, therefore, answers two purposes — the seed left with it in many- 
cases grows, and the dust serves as manure. 
Manuring next presents itself for consideration, and this, as 
already stated, may be carried out with advantage in almost every 
form. All the refuse of the farm will assist and improve grass 
land. The chief point to be kept in view is, that where the land 
produces thick, short, leafy herbage and not many seeds-stems, 
phosphatic manures should principally be used ; Avhile where the 
land is benty and inclined to produce seeds, more nitrogenous or 
ammoniacal manures are required. I do not mean that this should 
be taken in a literal sense, but that these considerations should be 
kept in mind in preparing mixtures for manuring. 
Great harm is often done to permanent pasture by using very 
stimulating manures, such as nitrate of soda, &c., alone, as the 
land, being overforced one year, is left in an exhausted state the 
next, while by the use of bones or special manures (when the latter 
are properly prepared, of which sufficient care Is seldom taken), 
food is supplied to the plant, which, lasting for some years, has 
time to give a permanency to the increased growth of the grass, 
from the increased decay of vegetable matter consequent on the 
much larger growth of the plant and its roots. My remarks 
elsewhere with regard to ammoniacal and phosphatic manures 
must be kept in view. On much of the lighter classes of soils, 
marl, lime, and salt maybe abundantly used, and with advantage. 
Some of this kind of pasture land may also be broken up with 
profit, especially where it burns, and it is often far more valu- 
able as arable land. At the same time I would caution per- 
sons who intend to break up pasture on stiff soils, with a view 
of laying it down to permanent grass, that they may in many 
cases be thus acting erroneously, unless It is wished to convert it 
into arable land, in which state It often pays better ; it will be 
